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May 21, 2017

Some Things I Think-- Late May Edition

I'm finding it hard to write much lately. And by that I mean since I took the PMP exam. I see this blog as a way for me to express my opinions on matters that mean a lot to me first, and as a way to inform/influence the public second. I know that's a change and in the nearly nine years I've been writing this blog, these priorities have flip-flopped back and forth, I'm sure many more times than I can count. So it's not so much a case of writer's block, or lack of material.

Anyway, one of my favorite blog post formats-- and one of yours, too, gentle readers-- has been the Larry King-style stream of consciousness posts about some things that I think. And so, I'm going to present those to you, this Sunday morning, May 21, 2017.

The Orioles finished the first quarter of the season with a record of 25-16. That's a pace for 99 or 100 wins on the season. Wasn't this team only supposed to win 75 games this year. Does anyone think that the rest of their season, they'll play to a 50-71 record? No, me neither.

This is Wine in the Woods weekend. I frankly don't care much for Wine in the Woods. I've been a few times, and it's been OK, but way too crowded and when I'm outside, I like having a little space around me. Like, elbow room is nice. And I haven't always been able to find that at WITW. Sunday is generally a less well-attended day than Saturday and with the cool weather, if you feel like me you might enjoy attending today.

I did the Preakness to the hilt last year-- a day not unlike yesterday. I enjoyed it a lot but getting out of Pimlico was murder-- three hours to move one mile, 90 minutes the rest of the way-- and that was among the reasons I chose not to attend this year. BTW, keep the damn Preakness in Baltimore and upgrade the track. The State, City and private entities ought to be able to make this work. A state needs two viable horse racing tracks to survive and there's nothing stopping Pimlico from being a showplace except for political will.

What is the current level of excitement about Columbia's 50th birthday? I get that a lot of people who read this and other blogs are already involved and connected in the community, so any comments that may come back on this may emanate from a bit of a jaundiced eye. But who out there is feeling that extra sense of Columbia pride?

Trivago commercials. I've always thought that Trivago Guy was a little creepy and too cool for his own good. Plus he reminded me of a former boss of mine who was-- well, a little creepy and too cool for his own good. Now, he has been replaced/supplemented by Trivago Girl-- a brunette with a pleasant, lilting Aussie accent. I find Trivago Girl inviting and friendly and would be much more likely to use their product. Is this anything more than my own gender bias showing?

Read a very interesting article in this Sunday's Washington Post about the next step in our society's development-- to move past/beyond diversity and into a practice of inclusion. I've been very interested in this concept for years. Basically, the author makes the point that we need to cycle back in the diversity process-- perform quality management, if you will-- and recalibrate diversity policies in the workplace and in institutions, to make sure ALL voices and perspectives are truly being heard. One example given in the article is the perception that on some college campuses, conservative groups or groups of "white students" don't feel represented or possessive of a voice? What do you think of this, gentle readers? A valid point, subtle racism, or something in between?

That's what I have for today. Enjoy your Sunday, and let's be careful out there.